People of Birmingham are being urged to do small acts of kindness for their neighbours and show that the city will not give in to hate and division.

The Love Your Neighbour campaign has been set up by faith and community leaders, and is backed by the Birmingham Mail, after of a rise in hate crime, division and abuse following last week’s Brexit vote.

It was set up by Adrian Bailey of the British Humanist Association who said his Hungarian wife had noticed hateful comments and anti-immigrant sentiment.

“She takes it personally and I sympathise with her,” he said. “There’s a lack of understanding between people at the moment."

The event heard that some leavers and remainers in the EU referendum vote are struggling to understand each other's decisions.

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“People do seem to be finding it difficult. We want to give people an opportunity to increase their understanding," Mr Bailey said.

“Birmingham is a great place to live, a caring city.”

Campaigners support Love Your Neighbour

Although a non-believer, Adrian found an ally in the Bishop of Birmingham, David Urqhuart, and since Tuesday a coalition of various faith, community and political groups has rallied to the cause and promised to spread the word.

The launch event yesterday saw various Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh groups joined by residents associations and city councillors. Many spoke of a rise in intolerance, with East Europeans and ethnic minorities particularly the target of abuse.

Incidents have included a firebomb attack on a halal butcher’s shop in Walsall and ‘vile’ Islamophobic leaflets pushed through doors in Aston.

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Campaigners want people to reject the hatred and intolerance to encourage people to get in touch with their neighbours and offer help.

“Over many generations people have made Birmingham their home, built it up and found they can belong here,” say the organisers.

“Birmingham is a great city because of its diversity – but we cannot take that diversity for granted. It is no use sharing a street or a suburb with people from different backgrounds if we do not know them. Loneliness is at epidemic levels, prejudice threatens to pull communities apart.”

David Urqhuart described the post-Brexit week, which has seen families divided, and neighbours falling out, as the country’s leadership stumbles from crisis to crisis as “confusing and bewildering times”.

“It’s about enabling people of to bring the best out in each other by doing a simple act of kindness both to people they know, and for strangers,” he added.

“We want people of goodwill to help us build a generous and diverse city for the 21st Century.”

Organisers say that 1,000 banners have been ordered by businesses and schools and that the campaign will be promoted via social media. The Birmingham Mail is also backing the campaign.

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West Midlands Police have also offered their support. Chief Superintendent Chris Johnson said: “It’s a fantastic campaign. It is a really clear demonstration that our city is coming together.”

Although community leaders say there has been a tide of abuse and intolerance since the vote, he added: “I don’t think there is a rise in reported hate crime but people are understandably very sensitive at this time.

“If anyone does experience hate crime we want them to report it. We will treat it very seriously and investigate.”